Getting Threats from Welcome Finance

[Rapier69]

Any thoughts on how we proceed with this would be appreciated,

we are now in such a state we are tempted to pay what seems to be plain extortion.

 

Some years ago we foolishly took a loan with Welcome Finance.

In January 2010 they contacted us saying we had missed that months payment.

We checked our bank account and it had been paid.

We called them back and after some delay the person said a mistake had been made due to our local office closing down and out account being moved to another branch.

The money had in fact been paid.

 

In October of 2011 we received an annual statement which indicated a charge for none payment in January 2010,

we called again and the charge was refunded with apologies and a new statement sent with the charges refunded,

but it still showed a missed payment in January 2010,

we called again and were assured this was just a computer glitch, we owed nothing.

 

But in January this year the loan should have been fully paid off,

but we recevied a letter telling us we still owed a missed payment from January 2010 plus compound interest amounting to a further £400 as penalty.

 

Our account manager calls constantly demanding we pay,

head office made a show of a complaint investigation and essentially replied pay up or else.

 

Further atttempts to contact head office just get replies boardering on abusive

We have already dealt with your complaint, now you have to pay up

We have offered to submit our bank records and the case to third party arbitration but they refuse.

 

I have asked the account manager to correspond in writing, not on the phone, but he refuses, saying it takes too long.

 

The account manager now calls 4-6 times a day to our home,

my office and to my employer,

he makes veiled threats such as We have ways of escalating this; and we will have to visit you in person

 

since we have a disabled teenager who is often alone at home we are seriously concerned by these threats and considering paying just to avoid trouble.

[padja]

and these are just threats and empty ones at that.

 

I would first get the calls stopped (and its illegal to call you at work)

theres a template letter in the library section that will gets the call stopped but in the mean time if you can record the calls,

if not get a notebook and record time length of call and what was said,

(this will be in case you go down the line of complaint)

 

Next the letter I would send is the one to stop doorstep visit again in letter library.

These letters give you a little peace of mind and stop any more threats on the phone.

 

do you have any written correspondent that says you have paid this and that there was a mistake on Welcome finance part.

 

If not I suspect you know realise that never phone these people always correspond in writing to them,

as you have (or will) find out they will suddenly have no record of any phone calls.

 

I would personally go to trading standards and take you evidence that you have paid this off,

and make a formal complaint also a complaint to FSA and OFT as well.

 

they want to escalate the matter well let them take you to court they know they are on a loser and will soon back down.

What has probably happened is they have lost a payment but hope by threatening you they will get that payment back.

 

Be brave get the letters sent and get complaint done and they relax.

 

If you have paid why should you pay again lets put it this way if you went to Asda bought a trolley full of shopping

and just as you were leaving the store they said I'm sorry but we dont think you paid for these you must pay again would you?

of course you wouldn't

this is no different, you've paid they have made a mistake so its their problem not yours.

[Rapier69]

Thank you, very useful advice

[dx100uk]

yes def COMPLAIN to oft/ts via the consumer direct site.

 

pers i'd SAR welcome

[if you've not got EVERY statement]

 

and get reclaiming

 

i BET there are heeps of penalty charges?[letter/phone/late/dd/debt advise] AND PPI to reclaim

 

there ALWAYS is with welcome

 

dx